Love/Hate star Tom Vaugan Lawlor, who has played gang-land boss Nidge for the last five seasons, admitted today that he is moving on from the hit show.

"The last five years working on Love/Hate have been an incredible and unforgettable journey for me,” he said in a statement.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with a brilliant cast who I’ve learnt a huge amount from, a tireless and talented crew, a visionary director, an amazing group of producers from Octagon and RTE, and in Stuart Carolan a world class writer.”

The Dublin actor said he is grateful to all the fans of the show and said he is excited to tackle new challenges.

“I’m hugely grateful to the show and to its fans and I am equally looking forward to the new challenges ahead for me both on screen and stage,” he said.

“As I perform this week in Dublin in Howie the Rookie prior to touring it to London and New York I will take wonderful memories of Love/Hate with me together with all the things I’ve learnt on the show into my future work."

Crime Lord Nidge was blasted in the chest by bomb maker Patrick in a chilling bloody finale Love/Hate season five.

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Over a million fans were glued to their seats as Garda rat Siobhan finally revealed to her uncle that she had torn his drugs gang apart.

(Image: RTE)

But she also got caught in the crossfire and was blasted to death moments before her uncle was shot in the chest and left to die in his back garden.

And in the bloodiest episode so far brothel boss Janet was also killed off and Nidge’s arch enemy Fran suffered a barbaric prison rape involving a snooker cue.

RTE had kept Sunday night's explosive plot a secret from the media until the shock 9.30pm screening.

Last night 34-year-old Mary Murray, who played Janet, said her death will have opened up a Pandora’s box for lover Nidge and those closest to her.

Viewers were left horrified at her torturous and lingering death scenes on the hit show - the second in the space of a week following Dean being battered to death by best pal Fran.

Mary who played the brothel boss, said she was, “so I was glad when Janet made it to the last episode at least.

The description of her murder was horrific and I knew it would make an impact.”

Bomb maker Patrick finally pulled drugs lord Nidge from his pedestal as a massive debate began on the likelihood of him surviving the gangland style shooting in his back garden.